Los Angeles, CA – Crenshaw running back Solomon Hassen took the handoff, broke a tackle near the sideline and raced 73 yards for a touchdown. The L.A. High transfer rushed for 172 yards and three touchdowns as Crenshaw beat rival Dorsey, 33-14, on Friday night.
The Cougars looked primed for a run at the Coliseum League title and maybe a deep run in the new Open Division playoffs.
“That was a statement to me,” Hassen said. “Nobody in the city can handle us, I’m talking to Narbonne right there.”
Crenshaw took a 7-0 lead on a 2-yard run by Hassen on the opening drive. After a Dorsey punt, quarterback Isaiah Johnson hit Dennis Patrick for a 47-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
“The game plan was to play fast,” Hassen said. “We wanted to get on top of them in the first quarter and we did that. They couldn’t hang with us from there.”
Dorsey looked for a spark and got it on a partially blocked punt, giving them good position at Crenshaw’s 28-yard line. Dons’ running back JoJuan Collins raced to the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown to cut Crenshaw’s lead, 14-7, in the second quarter.
“They beat us last year so I wanted to come out with the fire I had from the loss,” Johnson said. “We wanted to pound the rock inside. We have faster backs then their linebackers and it showed on the field.”
Johnson scored on a 13-yard run to extend the Cougars lead, 27-7, going into halftime. After a Crenshaw fumble, junior running back Charles Mincy Jr. scored from three yards out. Dorsey trailed Crenshaw, 27-14 in the third quarter.
Hassen scored his third touchdown of the game on a 35-yard run up the middle, putting the game out of reach in the fourth quarter. Hassen finished with 172 yards.
